Celts’ R. Williams available for G7 ‘if needed’

BOSTON — Robert Williams III will probably be obtainable for the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon in Recreation 7 of their second-round playoff sequence towards the Milwaukee Bucks, however he might not play his regular minutes — if he performs in any respect.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka mentioned Williams, who has missed the previous three video games with left knee soreness, will probably be used “if wanted.”

“He is obtainable to play,” Udoka mentioned at his pregame information convention. “Hasn’t accomplished an entire lot of basketball exercise within the final week. It has been extra so managing the ache. As I discussed, structurally he is OK. He’ll be capable to go. So he is obtainable to go. However he will not begin. We’ll go together with our regular rotation the final three video games with him being out. We’ll use him if wanted.”

With Williams out, the Celtics have used Grant Williams within the beginning lineup and Daniel Theis as the one large man off the bench.

With out Robert Williams, the Celtics have gained two of three, together with Recreation 6 in Milwaukee to power Sunday’s deciding recreation (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

“We’re not counting on him to return again to Recreation 7 to save lots of the day,” Udoka mentioned. “It is extra in order that he is obtainable and he is gotten higher and improved all through the week. We’ll nonetheless go together with our different rotations and use him on a necessity be foundation.”

Williams had surgical procedure to restore the meniscus in his left knee on March 30. Initially, it appeared Williams was dominated out with left knee soreness stemming from his return to play.

Nevertheless, earlier than Recreation 6, Udoka revealed that Williams’ absence was because of a small bone bruise, which he suffered in Recreation 3 after a collision with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.